Automatic lighter.



H. B. WOLFE.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1912.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

mvemo QZ- A ATTORNEY \VITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY n. woLFr, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I. HARRY E. \Vonrr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Lighters. of which the following is a specification.

This invention in automatic lighters relates to that class of devices adapted to instigate combustion through the agency of an active scintillating medium, coacting with an inflammable element in promoting the ignition of the latter. In devices of this character, the invention has more particular reference to that type, wherein the ignition is effected by the abrasive frictional contact of a sparking material, as for example, ferrocerium when rubbing, scraping or abrading against a rough surface, preferably, a hardened steel file of suitable form, in order to develop a shower of sparks and direct them upon a slow match or inflammable wick. In this connection, my invention is directed to certain improvements in the instrumentalities for automatically actuating the sparking elements and for extinguishing the fire on the wick, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Primarily the object of my present invention is to provide an improved automatic lighter in which the operation thereof may be facilitated to a greater extent than by similar devices in vogue and previous to my invention in so far as I am at present aware, and further, to provide a construction conducive to endurance, fidelity in operation and ease in manipulation, together with simplicity in construction. The features characteristic of my invention whereby I accomplish this object lie in the construction, as illustrated in the drawings hereto attached, which. when taken with the appended descriptive matter forms a part of this specification, and the distinct features of novelty are more particularly referred to in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.

The chief feature of my improved automatic lighter is a tubular reservoir adapted to contain a spirit combustible, disposed as a handle which carries the mechanism for the sparking instrumentalities, the taper or wick, the operating lever and the automatic snufl'e for extinguishing the flame of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1912. Serial No. 731,188.

Patented Aug. 4, 191a.

the wie k. The operating lever and its coordination embraces a particular feature of my invention by virtue of which the sparkmg instrumentalities are set into action, while at the same time, the wick is uncovered by a simple manipulation, and upon releasing the lever, the flame is snuffed out and the wick chamber covered to prevent leakage of the spirit.

The invention is illustrated in the construction as depicted in the drawings in which: Figure l is a side elevational view of my improved automatic lighter substantially full size. with the snufl'cr closed down upon the wick and wick chamber. Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the upper part thereof with a (portion of the actuating mechanism remove Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view partly taken in section of the upper part of the lighter illustrating the actuating mechanism in a normal position or that as illustrated in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a similar view to that of Fig. 3, showing the action of the sparking instrumentalities and their coacting mechanism, in order to etfect the ignition of the wick. In this view, the snufl'er is shown in an elevated position whereby the free wick is exposed for use. Moreover, in this view, certain parts which are shown in section in Fig. 3 are in full lines.

In the several figures, similar characters of reference are employed to designate like or the same parts where they occur, wherein,

1 depicts a spirit chamber or receptacle, composed preferably of metallic tubing,having an integral closed bottom. This is capped by a screw cover 2, threaded to the interior wall of the receptacle 1. The screw cover 2 is composed of a similar material to that of the receptacle 1, and is formed with a dome 3 and a knurled flange 4, which makes a fluid tight connection with the corresponding end of the chamber 1 by the intervention of a asket 5. The fluid chamber or receptacle 1 is charged with the burning fluid, preferably gasolene, benzin or the like and a quantity of absorbent cotton 6 containing the same.

Secured to and carried by the dome 3 is a standard 7, and penetrating the dome 3 and obliquely carried thereby in fluid tight relation therewith is a wi'ck tube or humor 8 containing a wick 9, which extends downwurdly into the chsmloer 1, end setureted sbsorhent cotton 6. The stunderd i is oi rectsngulsr tubulsr formetion end is rovided with ,lsterel opposing integral ishs 10, .towsrd the u per entremit thereof, which ere provide with outwsrdl projectinn integral lugs 11, constitution ops At the u per extremity or the stendcrd 7, end cosmully elined therewith and of s iler form. is en integral igniter-block pochet 12. This is of smuller cross section thsnthst oi? the stendsrd 7 end is adopted to contsin e. smell block of igniting motel and permit of s free up and down movement thereof; this pocket is provided with en integrel hrschet 13, to which is secured e pivoted snufinv cup 14, herring s wich esp 15. The snufier hes s cum groove l6.

1? refers to the opersting lever which is composed preferably of formed sheet metel end is provided with s greir ot lugs or sure 18 pivoted to the stonsrd 7 suhstsntielly inteediete oil the length thereof end swung therefrom upon e pivot 19.

Housed within the opersting lever 17 is e trigger or pewl 20 swingin on e stud 21 pro ected inwerdly from on curried by one of the sides to wit; thct nesrest the observer es illustreted in dotted lines in 193% 1. Seid trigger sppesrs in full lines in igs. 8 end 4, where the side of the o ereting lever which carries it is removed to e ucidste the mechsni housed by the said lever. The tri per 20 is rovided with en incline heel 22 dCkBd'tO t e well or the lever 7 by s. lug 28, pro'eeting from the surfsce of the mid well on integrul therewith. A. spring 2d secured to the lever 17 resses ugcinst the nigger 20, in order to t rust the heel 22 ngsinst the lug 23.

Pivotelly secured to end housed by the lsterel tubuler wells of the stendsrd 7 is e hell crenlr lever 25, provided with the urine 26 end 27; this is swunp by the urea 27 upon it pivot 28 secured to the letersl wells ot the stnndsrd 7, while the srm 26 is ivoted to on operetinv finger 29, by s stu 30. The erm 26 of the bell crsnlr lever is provided with e sligllaitly curved shoe 81 upon which s end t rusts the end oi? the trigger 20, when the lever 17 is in its normsl position .or thst us indicuted in Figs. 1 end 8. The stenderd 7, opposite the pivot 28 is perto rcted on one slde for the reception oi the wish tube 8 end on the op osite side for the introduction and free osci sting movement of the em 27 of the hell crenh lever 25.-

The r 22 is biturcsted st its uper terel to form e crotch or jew 32 wich enges e plurnlity or" studs 33. These ere in instunce illustrsted 6 in number and ere intell formed with end curried by e hub or ish ht revolving on. e stud 35 our-- ried tronsvereely end oninllv by the luterul wells out the otenderd t. The dish on geges e squnreol rule 86 csrryin e circuler serrsted sperlring wheel 37. T is letter is of lsminsted construction, and comprises in the instsnce illustrstecl, three toothed disks, the teeth of which are formed prefersbl by a stumping or punching operation, on the disks ere composed of a. suitable grade of steel siter which they are burdened. The spsrhing wheel ,3? is located; between the lstersl wells or the standard 7. The opposite end wslls thereof are cleared owey to permit or freedom of rotation of the sold wheel. This is eds ted to be driven in the direction indiceted y the arrow.

38 refers to as block of s erhing metal conteined within the chem er 12, which is edspted to be spring pressed downwardly by on erm 39 of s spring d0, ssid srm passes through e slot 41 in the corresponding end well of the poclret 12. The cap it swings upon. u pivot 42 secured to a. bracket 13 secured to the stendsrd 7. The sprin' 4:0 is housed within the on 14: end is coile about the tree ortion of t e pivot 42, secured to the stsn did 7.

. Coiled shout the pivot 19 is s. spring 43 on urm dd oi which thrusts spgsinst one 0% the inner end wells or the stsnderd 7, and opposite to that of the wiclr tube 8. Another erm d5 of the sprin t3 hes e. rectensrly bent toe idwhic passes through end love in s curved groove t7 inlone oi lid the sterel wells of the sten'derd 7, where it enters into end is secured to the err 18 of the lever 17. Coiled shout the stud 28 is e. spring d8, heving on em 49 thrustin egeinst s. luv 50, cerriedby the erm 26 o the bell crens lever 25, end e second srm 51 thrusting eggs-inst the wick tube 8. The effect of the seid s ring, while thus positioned, is to thrust t e bell crank lever arm 26 upwsrdlv while swinging u on the pivot 28 driving the finger 29 upwsr 1y to en ego one oi. the studs 88, and carry the spur ing wheel 37 eround in contsct with the sparkmp; motel 38, us will be more fully expleined hereinsi'ter. The finger 29 has on mtegrsl lug 52 which engsges the bent end 53 of e. torsionel springh 5t coiled ebout the stud 30; ssid sprin us its other end secured. in s cross-slot 5 in the stud 30. The spring 48 constitutes the main spring of the drivmechenism of the hu 34 end spsrking w eel 8? end in the position of the finger 29 end hell crsnlr lever 25, us illustreted in Fig. 3, the said mein spring thrusting egeinst the lug 50, end wick tube 8' hes driven the finger 29 u wsrdly to en extent sucient to enyge t e crotch 32 of the finger 29 with t e stud 33 of the hub 3% end eiiect therotetion thereof end the driving oi the sperhing wheel 37 for s. sixth of e revolution.

5d return to the snufi cup lever, which is termed integrnl with the lever ll ,3 it is pro lldd vided with a pin 57 which plays in the cam groove 16 of the s'nufiing cap 14. Upon swinging the lever-17 upon its pivot 19, the lever 56 will swing the snufiing cap 14 upon its pivot 42, and uncover the wick tube 8. This is accomplished by pressing the lever 17 downwardly, when the said snufiin cap will assume the position indicated in I ig. 4. The trigger spring designated 24 is secured to one wall of the lever 17, which carries the trigger stud 21, the free end 59 of which bears against the trigger 20 and presses the inclined heel 22 thereof in a direction toward the lug 23. The upper edge of the igniter block pocket 12 has an inte ral lug 60, formed in the manner of a .hoo under which is removably secured the free terminal of the spring 40.

The operation of my improved automatic lighter will be effected by swinging the lever 17 upon the pivot 19 in a direction toward the spirit chamber 1. This will cause the arm 56 to throw the snufiing cap upwardly on its pivot 42 and uncover the wick tube 8, while at the same time, upon continuing the movement, the end of the trig er 20 hearing downwardly on the curved 5 0e 31, while backed by the lug 23 against which the heel 22 rests, will carry the bell crank lever 25 and operatin finger 29 downwardly a ainst the action 0 the main spring 48 until the crotch 32 of the finger 29 is brought to a position of engagement with a stud 33 of the ub 34, when the end of the trigger 20 will be carried off from the end of the curved shoe 31, and the main s ring 48 will be released, whereupon the ell crank lever 25 will be thrust upwardly and swinging upon its pivot 28 will drive the finger 29 to en age its crotch 32 a ainst the engaging stu 33 of the hub 34 o the sparking wheel 37, and carry the latter around for one sixth of a revolution. Due to the downward pressure upon the sparking metal 38 by the arm 39 of the spring 40 against the serrations of the sparking wheel 37 while the latter is in rotation, a shower of sparks will be projected against the free end of the wick 9, resulting in the ignition thereof. The action of the bell crank lever 25 and operating fin er 29 immediately prior to the release t ereof from the trigger 20 when the lever 17 is depressed is fully illustrated in Fig. 4. Upon releasing the said lever, the spring 43 will drive the lug 18 and lever 17, around on the pivot 19 to a normal position or that indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, when the trigger 20 will be caused to assume a position in engagement with the curved shoe 31 of the bell-crank lever 25 where it. will rest in the normal osition as indicated in Fig. 3, and the snu 'ng cap 14 will be thrown down upon the standard 7 and the wick cap 15 brought into a position over the free end of the wick tube 8. This will cap the same together with wick 9 and snufi' out the flame which resulted from the previously described operation.

It will be observed by the above description of my improved automatic lighter that the effect of the lever 17 and its coordination with the bell crank lever 25, trigger 20 and operating finger 29 actuated through the instrnmentality of the main spring 48 bears a resemblance to the trigger mechanism of self-cocking fire arms. In this connection the downward depression of the lever 17, cocks as it were, the operating finger 29, and releases it thereafter, whereby the wick 9 is ignited by a single movement being imparted to the operating lever 17. It will be further observed that the automatic action of the snutiing cap14 is simultaneous with the operation of the lever 17, and while the lighter is being cocked and fired, its action is of an absolute automatic nature. Hence it will be understood that my improved lighter may be operated with the greatest of facility and ease in manipulation, and moreover that it is of durable and simple construction, and

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. An automatic lighter of the character described comprising, a spirit chamber, a standard carried thereby, a laminated sparking wheel carried by the standard, and a self-cocking trigger mechanism consisting of an operating lever, a bell crank lever pivoted to said standard, an operating finger pivoted to said bell crank lever, a trigger carried by said operating lever, and a main spring secured to said standard.

2. An automatic lighter of the character described comprising, a spirit chamber, a standard carried thereby, a wick tube secured to said chamber and extending laterally therefrom. an igniter block carried by the said standard, an operating lever pivoted to the standard, and a laminated sparking wheel pivoted to the standard intermediate the operating lever and said igniting block.

3. In an automatic lighter of the character described, a spirit chamber, a cap carried by said chamber and secured thereto, a wick tube and a standard carried by the cap, said wick tube projecting laterally from the standard, a laminated sparking wheel carried by said standard. an igniting block carried by the standard, an operating lever pivoted to the standard, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the standard, an operating finger pivoted to said bell-crank lever and adapted to impart rotary movement to said sparking wheel, and a self cocking trigger mechanism carried by the said operating mechanism.

4. In an automatic lighter of the character described, a spirit chamber. a standard carried thereby, a wick tube secured to said chamber and extending laterallv therefrom,

an igniting block carried within the upper portion of the standard, an operating lever pivoted to said standard, a laminated s arking Wheel pivoted to the said standard intermediate of said igniting block and operatin lever, a bifurcated finger for operating sai sparking wheel, a snufi'er pivoted to the said standard, and an arm projecting from the operating lever and pivoted to the said snufier whereby the snufieris adapted to cover and uncover the Wick tube by the I operation of the lever.

5. In a lighter of the character described, a spirit chamber, a standard carried thereby, a Wick tube secured to-said chamber and rojecting laterally therefrom, a sparking b oc'k carried Within the upper portion of the standard, in combination with a snufiing cap pivoted to the standard, of an integral lock portion projecting over the upper portion of the standard, and of aspring coiled around the (pivot carrying the snufiing cap, one free en of said spring being engaged beneath said hook portion and the other free end adapted to contact with and depress the said sparking block.

6. An automatic lighter of the character described comprising, a spirit chamber, a

moans standard carried thereby, a Wick tube secured to said chamber, a laminated sparking Wheel secured to said standard, a snufiing cap pivoted to the standard, a sparking block carried within the upper portion of the standard, an operating lever pivoted to said standard and having an integral upward projecting arm ivoted to said snufing cap whereby the sun g cap is adapted to-cover and un cover the Wick tube by the operation of said lever.

7. In a lighter of the character described, a laminated sparking Wheel.

8. In an automatic lighter of the character described, a laminated sparkin Wheel, in combination with a drivlng hu provided with a plurality of integral annularly situated and laterally projecting driving studs,

and a bifurcated o crating finger for engaging said studs, su istantially as described.

In testimony whereof l[ have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Arum. B. Wizroia'r, Emann'rn L. STERN. 

